Now is the time.
The time that I have anxiously awaited for 9 months and even longer than that.
The time where practice is now our play and the rooster has crowed, awakening all for what's ahead. It's the reuniting of a family that's thick as blood and a group of Jesus junkies ready to see the Lord move amongst His people through willing vessels that are simply available and said, "yes".
It's LAUNCH TIME!
It's WORLD RACE TIME!
When signing up for the World Race, I knew that changes were coming and I was committing to a lifestyle that was so different than what I had known life to be like. As hard as this can be at times, The Lord has really been instilling in me these two words, "Neglecting normalcy."
I knew my new normal would drastically look different than anything and everything I had experienced before. It's been a process of preparing myself to live different, be different, and accept the cultures, ways, and lifestyles of others. As Americans, or anyone for that matter, this isn't easy.
Here I am at launch, embracing the idea of neglecting normalcy. By the grace of God, I'm so beyond excited to experience a life way beyond my own tradition, routine, and agenda.
It's not normal to want to live out of a backpack for 11 months.
It's not normal to see poverty stricken areas and beg God to send you there.
It's not normal to comfortably be vulnerable with people you have seen twice in person.
It's not normal to leave your family and totally trust everything is okay.
It's not normal to be told you have 5 dollars a day per person for food.
It's not normal to have to walk around sticking out like a sore thumb because your American.
Nothing about this race has been my previous idea of normal, but everything about this race I have undoubtedly committed to take on as my own and allow myself to be challenged, which produces growth. And what hasn't been normal for me has typically always been normal for someone else.
I can seriously sit here and say I am beyond excited for my definition of normal to be rocked and shipwrecked. I am excited to experience what's considered normal life for other people around the world.
Here's to a great year, where my normal becomes His normal and my heart is molded more and more into the character of God and everything that He has for me.
Psalm 32:7 states,
"For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory."
I've been meditating on this scripture for the last two days. My heart is put at peace knowing that in the midst of neglecting what was normalcy for me, that God is my hiding place. I can run to Him and his protection is a promise. I am surrounded in songs of Victory, meaning failing isn't an option when I truly put on the promise of God and take on the true and whole nature He himself has granted me. I am victorious in all things, all circumstances, and anything that comes my way.
Now is the time.
The time that we have prepared for months on in.
A time to be in Him, protected, and victorious in all facets of life, including our ministry to others.
See you Sunday, Guatemala!
& Cheers to all.
